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Gregorian gives Gosden another Hungerford win

GREGORIAN gave John Gosden a record-breaking fifth success in the Hungerford Stakes as he flew down the rail late on under Rab Havlin for a smooth win in the day's feature race.

All the talk before the race had been about the unbeaten South African star Soft Falling Rain but it was a horse who had been beaten nine and a half lengths when fifth of seven in the Sussex Stakes last time who was earning the plaudits after.

With none of the five-strong field keen to go early, Gregorian was anchored at the back of the quintet under Havlin where he was able to keep an eye on the moves of all his rivals.

Always travelling the best of these, Gregorian hit top gear late on and crossing the line was an easy length and a half clear of Soft Falling Rain with a further length and a quarter back to Tawhid in third.

The winning jockey said: "It was a muddling race early on but my lad showed a good turn of foot and that is what won him the race.

"As a three-year-old he was beaten necks and heads at the highest level and last time at Goodwood he ran freely and perhaps didn't see out the mile but today everything worked out well.

"He is a good solid horse who always runs his race and doesn't let you down. His options are wide open now."

Paul Hanagan, rider of Soft Falling Rain, added: "I couldn't blame the ground, he was beaten by a very good horse. I think he'll be better with a bend. He'll come on for this race."

The win saw Gosden move clear of legendary trainers Sir Noel Murless and Sir Henry Cecil in training the most winners of this race.